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Three interception returns for touchdowns carries No. 10 Crimson Tide past No. 8 Aggies
STAFF PHOTOS | MICHELLE LEPIANKA CARTER
Alabama defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick returns an interception for a touchdown against Texas A&M in fourth quarter at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas. Fitzpatrick returned two interceptions for touchdowns Saturday and Eddie Jackson added another pick-six in the Crimson Tide’s victory.
Tide sets school record with picks
An identity starting to form for Tide
By Cecil Hurt
COLLEGE STATION, T EXAS t’s still October, far too early to evaluate where this Alabama football team will eventually end up in the hearts of its hard-to-please fan base. This team isn’t as pretty as some of Nick Saban’s recent teams. It does some frustrating things, the most frustrating being a home loss to an Ole Miss team that has been exposed badly in recent weeks. That loss put this team on the brink of elimination in the SEC, to say nothing of the playoff picture. Alabama may or may not fi nd its way back from that precipice. That’s a weekCECIL by-week proposition. HURT It isn’t always beautiful (the Georgia game is a notable exception). There are times when the team seems to take a special pleasure in doing infuriating things. They certainly don’t make for easy watching on the recliner. SEE HURT | 5C
Sports Editor
COLLEGE STATION, T EXAS | All that Texas A&M needed for a win on Saturday was some better tackling. By its quarterbacks. No. 10 Alabama had four interceptions, returning three of those for touchdowns and netting a field goal off the possession provided by the other to take a 4123 win over the No. 9 Aggies before a record crowd at Kyle Field. “Thank God for our defense,” Alabama wide receiver Richard Mullaney said. Freshman Minkah Fitzpatrick set a school record and tied the SEC mark with his two touchdown returns. Eddie Jackson had two interceptions as well, retuning one for a touchdown and setting up a field goal with the other. “I thought our defense played a great game,” said Alabama’s Derrick Henry ran for a career-high 236 yards and scored SEE T IDE | 4C two touchdowns. He had more than 100 yards after just one quarter.
PAGE 4C BEAST MODE Derrick Henry turns up the heat with big effort against Aggies
NUMBERS Complete statistics from the game
PAGE 5C UP-AND-DOWN DAY Tide special teams sees positives and big letdowns
QUARTER GLANCE Breakdown of each quarter
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PAGE 6C ANALYSIS Defense, once again, steps up and delivers in hostile road environment
NOTEBOOK Momentum shifts to Aggies after Shaun Dion Hamilton ejected for targeting
FOUR DOWNS How the Crimson Tide answered questions against Texas A&M
For video and a photo gallery of Alabama’s game with Texas A&M, go to www.tidesports.com and www.tuscaloosanews.com